AMA national champ Ruml scratches out Division 1 sweep in Fast Fridays opener in Auburn

With a near-capacity crowd watching, the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce cut a red ribbon with a big pair of scissors to open the 2022 Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway season Friday night and racing began at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. The fan base was ready for fast, exciting motorcycle racing on a beautiful Friday night, and they were not disappointed. Many riders were a little shaky and dusting off the cobwebs from the offseason, and there were a few mishaps; nothing too serious, just bumps and a few spills. Max Ruml, the 2021 AMA National Speedway Champion, made every mile of travel from Southern California count by winning the Division I scratch main event. Ruml also won his heat race and semifinal. Ten-time AMA National Champion Billy Janniro was second and Gino Manzares was third. Manzares, a seasoned veteran, has committed to making the journey from Southern California each week to race at Fast Fridays. Alex Martin rode in the Youth 250 class last season and has made a name for himself in his first year in Division I. Martin, who seems to have grown about 6 inches in the offseason, was up against the best riders in the country and pulled off a win in the Division I handicap main event. Martin also turned in a perfect performance by winning his heat race and semifinal. Not a zero-liner either, Martin started on the 30-yard line. Second was Bart Bast, and third was Max Ruml. Derik Denzin, off the 40-yard line, took home the Division II main event. Denzin also had a first-place finish in his heat race. Denzin did double time, also riding in the Division I program, and it will probably become his home in the near future. Shawn Eldredge was second and Sammy Tetrault was third. Eldredge and Tetrault also rode in the Division I program. With just one ride under his belt in the 2020 canceled season, Everett Holmes won the Division III main event. Holmes also won his heat race to transfer to the main. He was riding off the zero line, but with just a one-race history, Holmes showed he will probably not be in Division III for long and certainly not starting on the zero line. Second was Sam Richardson, and finishing third was Tim Rott. Exciting action rounded out the youth divisions. Charlie Trana made it look easy in the Youth 250cc division and started the season in a convincing way. Trana was perfect, winning his heats and the main event. Pushing hard but not able to find a way to stop Trana, Chase Kangas finished second in each Youth 250 race, followed by Catherine Moore in third. Youth 150 was a little more crowded. Seven riders lined up for the first heat race. Caden Cavrikas placed second in the first heat, won the second heat and captured the main event. Jameson Hutchinson was second in the main and Wesley Rearick was third. Not to be left out of a great night of racing were the Pee-Wees. Close to 20 little riders and future speedway riders took to the oval on their 50cc motorcycles to the crowd's very vocal approval, with parents, grandparents and family friends no doubt cheering the loudest. Fast Fridays action continues with the return of the Extreme Sidecars on June 3. Fast Fridays results, May 20 Division I Scratch main event: 1. Max Ruml, 2. Billy Janniro, 3. Gino Manzares, 4. Russell Green. Division I Handicap main event: 1. Alex Martin, 2. Bart Bast, 3. Max Ruml. Division II main event: 1. Derik Denzin, 2. Shawn Eldredge, 3. Sammy Tetrault. Division III main event: 1. Everett Holmes, 2. Sam Richardson, 3. Tim Rott. Youth 250 main event: 1. Charlie Trana, 2. Chase Kangas, 3. Catherine Moore. Youth 150 main event: 1. Caden Cavrikas, 2. Jameson Hutchinson, 3. Wesley Rearick.